Chapter 10: Happy Days
Tiana sighed heavily as she placed the last bag of groceries down on the table. It had been four months since Tiana got that call from Nita and it was tearing her up on the inside.
"Mama!"
"Yes Aisha."
"Where you want me to put these clothes?" When Tiana reached her seventh month of pregnancy Aisha decided to come back from Chicago to help around the house since Tiana was supposed to be on bed rest. After two false labors Dr. Jenkins definitely put Tiana on a tight leash.
"Put them in my room."
"Mama, now you know good and well you ain't supposed to be up and movin' around." Aisha entered the kitchen and started to put away the groceries.
"Well if I don't do it then it won't get done."
"Mama, you just relax and sit yourself down I'll put away the groceries and start dinner."
"Aisha, you don't have to."
"Mama I want to."
"Have you heard from Nita?"
"She wrote me a letter about three months ago."
"Is she ok?"
"She's fine; she said she really loved touring in Europe."
"I'm glad she's happy."
"Oh Mama, Nita will come back home."
"Aisha, you don't have to lie to me I know my daughter and I don't think she's coming back."
"Mama Nita is coming back it may not be tomorrow or next month but she'll be back. The only thing you need to worry about is keepin that baby in there."
"I'm so excited; I can't wait to meet him or her."
"As long as the baby's healthy and a girl then I'm fine."
"I think it's gonna be…" Tiana hunched over and placed a hand over her stomach.
"Mama are you ok?"
"Yeah babycakes I'm fine the baby's just movin' around." Then there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it Mama."
"Mama you have visitors." Then Aisha, Evangeline and Charlotte entered the kitchen.
"Aw you guys."
"When Aisha called us earlier today we felt so bad for you we decided to come see you."
"You knew about this?" Tiana eyed Aisha
"Well, I hate seeing you all alone and I know you wanted to see your friends."
"Tia, I have fabulous news for you."
"What is it Lottie?"
"Well, you know how Travis basically robbed me of my money. I got Big Daddy to call a lawyer, and it looks like Travis might be going to jail for a very long time."
"Lottie, what about the kids I'm sure they want to see their father."
"Oh please honey, Travis barely spent any time with the kids; he hardly even knows their birthdays."
"I'm so sorry to hear that Charlotte."
"It's alright Evangeline, besides I already met someone new."
"You talkin' bout Adam?"
"Maybe, maybe not."
"Lottie, I think you and Adam would make a great couple."
"Tia he makes me so happy and his daughters are so precious."
"I hear wedding bells in the distant future."
"Very distant future."
"Aisha, how's Willie?" Evangeline asked
"Driving me crazy. This man comes home from and acts like he ain't eaten anything in days. He eats everything in the house, it a wonder he hasn't called me yet askin' me where I get the groceries from."
"He probably has his Mama cookin food for him."
"Not in my kitchen she not, he better be takin' the kids to her house and eat dinner."
"Aisha, I raised you better than that."
"I know Mama, but she's just so annoying she acts like Willie's too good for me."
"Aisha…" Tiana stopped when she felt a sharp pain run through her.
"Mama are you ok?"
"I think it's time."
"What? But Mama you just got to eight months…"
"Aisha, I know my body this is baby is comin' now, so get me to a hospital."
"Alright, come on Mama, Aunt Lottie can you get my Mama's bag from her room."
"Sure thing sugarplum." Lottie quickly left the room.
"Aisha, I'll start the car you go on and help your Mama." Evangeline left the kitchen
"Mama can you stand up?"
"Aisha, this is my fifth baby I think I can handle myself. Let's just go on to the hospital."
"Tia, I have your bag."
"Thanks Lottie, can you call Naveen please."
"Sure, I'll meet you guys at the hospital."
Nita was in her hotel room sitting on the bed writing in her journal.
"Hey baby." Nita looked up and smiled when she saw Clyde.
"Hey I missed you." Nita sat up and gave Clyde a quick kiss.
"I missed you too, how's Clyde Jr.?"
"Um, Rose is just fine." Clyde laughed at Nita
"So, how does it feel this is the last city we tour in?"
"I'm so ready for this is over don't get me wrong I love Italy and my dream has finally come true but, I can't wait to just relax and wait for this baby to come."
"Hey, so I wanted to surprise you but I know you don't want to go back to New Orleans so I got us a house in California."
"California? You lyin."
"Baby if I'm lyin I'm dyin and I know you don't want that to happen."
"How were you able to pull that?"
"Baby, you know I have my connections and my boy gave me a great deal on this huge house. Baby I'm gonna take real good care of you and that's a promise."
"Aw, I love you baby."
"I love you too." The two met in a kiss. The kiss soon grew passionate as Nita pulled Clyde on to the bed with her so that he was on top of her. Before they could go any further, their phone started to ring. Clyde sighed heavily.
"Baby, ignore it." Nita said while unbuttoning his shirt.
"No, I gotta answer it; it could be the record company." Nita sighed as Clyde sat up to answer the phone.
"Hello? Hey Mrs. Wilkes, she's what? Ok, ok I'll see what I can do. Thanks for calling, alright bye." Clyde slammed the phone down.
"Shit!"
"What's wrong Clyde?"
"Donna died of an overdose."
"Oh my…are you ok?"
"Yeah I'm fine." Clyde started to button up his shirt.
"I'm going out, don't wait up for me." Clyde left the room and slammed the door shut.
Nita sighed heavily as she lay down on the bed. She wasn't sure before but she is now, she knows that Donna will always come before her even if she is dead.
"Mrs. Patel give me on more push you've passed the shoulders."
"You doin' great babycakes." Eudora encouraged. Tiana fell back on to the bed when she heard that cry she's been waiting to hear for so long.
"It's a beautiful baby girl Mrs. Patel." Eudora started to cry tears of joy.
"Aw, I'm so proud of you baby cakes." Tiana smiled tearfully as the nurse placed her baby on Tiana's chest.
"I'll go get Naveen."
"Papa, don't worry Mama will be fine."
"Naveen." Naveen looked up at Eudora who was smiling ear to ear.
"It's a girl."
"A girl?" Naveen stood up
"Come on and follow me so you can see her."
When Naveen entered the room he smiled when he saw Tiana breast-feeding their new baby.
"How is she?"
"The doctors said they gonna have to keep her, to make sure she's alright, but other than that she's perfect. She's breathing on her own which is a blessing."
"What are we going to name her?"
"I was thinking Jasmine Talia after your grandmother, and my grandmother on my Daddy's side."
"That's perfect." Naveen smiled
"I love you so much mi Benita, for giving me my beautiful children."
"I love you too Naveen." The two shared quick kiss. They looked down and smiled softly when they saw that their new daughter was looking at them her eyes wide open.
"She's beautiful." Then Nita, Charlotte and Evangeline entered the room
"Oh my goodness Mama she's so precious."
"What this little cutie's name?" Lottie gushed
"Jasmine Talia."
"Aw, Tiana that's a beautiful name."
"Thanks Eva."
"Let me hold my grandbaby." Tiana handed Jasmine to Eudora.
"Oh, look at her she's so pretty. Has a head full of hair."
"Naveen she looks like your side of the family, but she has James' nose." Then Jasmine stared to get restless.
"Ok, ok, I'll give you back to Mommy." Eudora handed Jasmine back to Tiana.
"Baby cakes I'll be back tomorrow morning."
"Bye Mama I love you."
"I love you too baby. Bye everyone." Eudora then left.
"Mama, Imma go on head back to the house.
"Yeah Tia, we gonna leave too."
"Ok, see y'all later." Charlotte, Evangeline, and Aisha all left the hospital to give the parents some alone time with their new daughter.
When Aisha entered the house she heard the phone ring. Aisha sighed heavily and made her way to the phone.
"Hello?"
"Isha?"
"Nita? Oh my goodness you don't know how happy I am to hear your voice."
"Me too."
"Why are you whispering?"
"Clyde's sleep in the other room, so how's everyone?"
"Well, Mama had the baby today."
"Really?"
"Yeah, it's a girl her name's Jasmine Talia."
"That's so pretty, I called to tell Mama something but I guess I'll just tell you."
"What is it? You aren't hurt or anything?"
"Oh no, I'm pregnant Aisha."
Forget your troubles
Come on get happy
You better chase all you cares away
Shout hallelujah
Come on get happy
Get ready for the judgment day
The sun is shining
Come on get happy
The lord is waiting to take your hand
Shout hallelujah
Come on get happy
We're going to the promise land
Happy Days/Get Happy Rendition by: Glee Cast